#348

We still have an issue I mentioned before: the kids wear something for five minutes, then toss it in the hamper. No! The clean hoodie you wore downstairs for breakfast? Not dirty! The t-shirt that covered you from bedroom to shower. No! Underthings are different; I get that; one day, tops. Those are the rules. Period. No mountains of dirty clothes! Maybe if I did laundry more often... but I'm not on trial here, YOU ARE, M 'n' m! I set a good example: it's shameful how many reps I get from jeans and sweaters. Sweaters = years.

Meg was wonderfully unwarlike this morning. She was pleasant. It was unusual. Eerie, in fact. A movie title popped into my head: Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's a 1956 film I've never seen, but in desperate search of explanation... and from there, repetition! Repeating positive results, an engineering problem, for which my training and career should be suited...

This weekend, Megan told her friend, "My dad says yes to everything." Again, something popped into my head. This time, not a cute movie title. More like an air raid siren; in 1940 the Luffwaffe bombed London in one stretch 56 out of 57 days and nights. Lots of loud sirens, bad things. The Blitzkrieg. I do NOT say yes to everything. I am, however, open to creative ideas and activities my kids propose. I felt complimented. And I felt un-complimented. Dads should be feared; isn't that time-tested wisdom? Proverbs 13:24 and all that. M 'n' m are good kids. Good grades, good friends; no behavior issues at school. Good developing minds, hearts, and energies. Could Megan be more polite? Uh, yeah. (But I exaggerate her crabbiness; what else am I supposed to write about?) Could Michael be more proactive about responsibilities at home? Sure. I'm hesitating now; be careful what you document; maybe this paragraph will disappear. M 'n' m certainly aren't stifled by rigidity and authority in my company. Is this the best approach? Time will tell.

I still haven't seen Logan, the movie. Wolverine is the best superhero. Come on, everyone has a favorite. When I was little, it was the Hulk; I had the Underoos; I had the doll, I mean action figure. Hugh Jackman does a perfect Wolverine, conflicted, protective, dangerous. Jackman is 48. I like the oldest ballplayers now too, veterans and journeymen. Michael is an Iron Man guy. (Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes ain't bad either.) Meg loves Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Pratt's pretty great as Star-Lord, but for her it's Groot and the racoon.

Well on my planet, there's a legend about people like you. It's called Footloose. And in it, a great hero, named Kevin Bacon, teaches an entire city full of people with sticks up their butts that dancing is the greatest thing there is.

     — Star-Lord

You just wanna suck the joy out of everything!
     — Rocket Racoon

I am Groot.
     — Groot

Quit smiling you idiot, we're supposed to be professionals.
     — Rocket Racoon 

I come from a planet of outlaws: Billie the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, John Stamos...
     — Star-Lord

Dance-off, bro. Me and you.
     — Star-Lord

No one talks to my friends like that.
     — Drax

This is what life looks like, people who love you, a home, you should take a minute and feel it.
     — Professor X to Logan